Secretary-General on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis

I join the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a messenger of hope, humility and humanity. 

Pope Francis was a transcendent voice for peace, human dignity and social justice. He leaves behind a legacy of faith, service and compassion for all — especially those left on the margins of life or trapped by the horrors of conflict. 

Pope Francis was a man of faith for all faiths — working with people of all beliefs and backgrounds to light a path forward. 

Through the years, the United Nations was greatly inspired by his commitment to the goals and ideals of our organization — a message I conveyed in my meetings with him as Secretary-General. 

In his historic 2015 visit to United Nations headquarters, he spoke of the organization’s ideal of a “united human family.” 

Pope Francis also understood that protecting our common home is, at heart, a deeply moral mission and responsibility that belongs to every person. His Papal Encyclical — Laudato Si — was a major contribution to the global mobilization that resulted in the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change.  

Pope Francis once said: “The future of humankind isn’t exclusively in the hands of politicians, of great leaders, of big companies…[it] is, most of all, in the hands of those people who recognize the other as a ‘you’ and themselves as part of an ‘us.’” 

Our divided and discordant world will be a much better place if we follow his example of unity and mutual understanding in our own actions.  

I offer my deepest condolences to Catholics and all those around the world inspired by the extraordinary life and example of Pope Francis. 

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